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@sorrycharlie: smart ladies think alike!
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@Mrs D: I have yet to find a product from one of these companies for which there isn't a superior and/or more cost effective product on the market through a more traditional sales model. But, that really wasn't the point of my post. My issue is with the way many women market these products that are meant to guilt you into buying from them. Or when they outright lie about how the process works and the crazy amount of income you acn expect to earn if you join their team.
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@Mrs D: I wasn't trying to argue either just trying to figure it out. I do think understanding how purchases impact your friend are important before signing up to be a preferred customer and from my understanding of the page you linked to it can be significant.
I don't mind companies that are just a cut of profits, I mean that's how it is for a lot of sales. But this just feels like their compensation set up is to bleed people of their connections, a pressured form of advertising, but 600 a month requirement of preferred customers to get more than 10% seems steep to me.
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I have the microdermabrasion and the hand cream. I really like both products!
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@Truth Bombs: consider yourself lucky then that you have not fallen in love with some of the products!
I have been really pleased with some of the younique makeup items (esp the fiber lashes) and I have found a few ThirtyOne bags that I dont see another comp to - specifically the LUT.I agree with the misleading and guilting of consultants and dont agree with that. I try to make sure if I am engaging with a consultant that they are honest and not pushy - the same qualities I look for in any sales person really. Thankfully - the two companies I technically belong to are not complex...one is not a pyramid structure at all and the other has that component to it but you still have your own commission on your own sales that is very straightforward.
From my experience (the jewelry company I belong to I have been there for a year+ and seen LOTS in my time) a lot of women simply dont apply common sense when making decisions to join - and/or I feel are preyed upon sometimes for lack of business savvy. I have numerous times been reprimanded by employees (not consultants) of the jewelry company for sharing common sense advice to not so business savvy "momtreprenuers" who I feel are being mislead by the company. My biggest gripe is that they always tell the ladies "invest in more jewelry - by wearing it more your will sell more"...PAH-LEASE. I'm sorry but if Jenny Smith in small town america goes and buys our "signature" $188 necklace and flaunts it to the grocery store I doubt she will get 1 sale from it. Yet some of these women drink the Koolaide and $500 of jewelry later have made no sales but are the companies best customer. Its ridiculous. I constantly try to give some of the more naive newbies better advice and tend to get knocked for it - hence why I have completely stepped back and became a "discount" consultant...meaning I do it for the discount only and dont care about the other bs!
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@Truth Bombs: I think what bugs me is that it seems like some people don't want to put the time into actually working, therefore, the alternative is to become one of these consultants and then magically earn 6 figures and drive a free Lexus. It is all reward and no hard work and that isn't how it usually works out in the real world.
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I have not used Rodan & Fields.
I do find the rest of this thread fascinating.
My husband sells for a multi-level marketing thing. It does not make us a lot of money. He tried for a few years to make it work but it just didn’t work out for him. He does like/love the product so he buys for himself which probably helps the person above him a lot. Those people (they were a couple) don’t work anymore and live off income they created by recruiting others.
I actually did read up on the system and how people make money through this. It’s quite do-able but seems like a lot of work (especially for an introvert) . It seems like a lot of talking to people and convincing them why buying from you and your product is better than getting stuff from a store.
I find it interesting that there is soooo much hate surrounding this.
I sort of feel like they are no different from Amazon links from blogs or adds on YouTube videos.
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@looch: Right. There's a reason it's called *work.*
I don't care for the pretense that it is something other than what it is. It's about money. We all know that. I , however, prefer to deal with the *wolf,* so to speak (we both know what it is and are good with it), rather than a wolf in sheep's clothing (we both know what it is, but one of us wants to pretend it's something other than a wolf). The bottom line is buy what you like from whomever and however you like.
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@Raindrop: life's hard and I'd just rather keep my friends as friends. My dislike comes from recent hurt feelings. A friend who I used to be quite close to called to pitch me on the day of a funeral of someone who was very dear. I understand that she didn't mean anything by it ( she didn't know what had happened) but it hurt suprinsingly bad to think I'd have someone to talk to and then realize it wasn't a friendship call. It made me more angry at the company for their business practice though, it's her fault too, but it's a shitty business practice to pay people so little to try and guilt their contact lists.
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@Maysprout: Oh sorry to hear about that! I can see why you are upset then.
We actually never tried to pitch to our friends. When asked about it because it came up sometimes, we would explain it and usually our friends would say oh that's interesting. A few actually bought things from us which was nice but we never tried to be pushy about it.
One of our friends was actually doing the same thing and so that actually lead to a fun conversation.
I mean if you don't have that pushy personality I can't see doing that well in this type of thing but I definitely know you can be successful.
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The people selling that stuff on FB has gotten so annoying, I've had to stop following most of them. One girl who isn't very fit asked me about what I was using while training for a half ironman triathlon and I told her assuming she was curious what to use to get in shape. Turns out she was just trying to pitch me supplements and what not that her company I'd never heard of sold. Why would I try a random supplement from a random company when I can just use real food and add in stuff from reputable companies like Clif, etc.? So annoying.
For my skin I like to use a Clairsonic brush with whatever soap you need for your skin type. I like the say yes to tomatoes for acne soap and I like tea tree oil products as well. Will also use soap and face lotions with salisylic (I know the spelling is wrong
) acid.
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@Raindrop: I think the difference between this & Amazon/Youtube referral links is that one is being pitched to me by friends (harder to say no to) and on social media (where I personally prefer not to see advertisements for products). The other is more passive -- I can choose to click away from an affiliate linked blog post if I don't care for the ad blast and there are no hurt feelings and I don't have to directly tell someone "no" to their face.
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@sunny: You are right and have a good point. That is a key difference.
Sorry I guess I was related it to people saying that their FB feed was getting overloaded with this. Again I don't do FB so I'm just guessing that's how it is like and I could be wrong about that too! Haha.
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@T.H.O.U.: @hellobeeboston: I was surprised to see the question about whether you're pregnant or nursing. Makes you wonder about the chemicals!
@mfa_lady: Ha messed up towels is the worst!
@mediagirl: Thanks for the info! It's like if something rids my dark circles it's worth money, but to be told stories, and not get the results is frustrating.
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@pwnstar: Thank you!
@Mrs D: Thank you, I appreciate hearing about what really works!
@ldh112: Lol, that's never fun. How did she react?
@Mrs D: Wow, fascinating info! I wondered about how all that works!
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I absolutely hate multi-level marketing schemes. I refuse to support them.
Personally I think the best way to discover the best skincare regimen for you is to visit a Sephora, get a free skincare consultation, and then buy several products and take home several samples. They have an amazing selection, their advice is unbiased, and they have an amazing return policy. Their loyalty program is also great.
I'm starting to cut off several friends who are selling for R&F now--I feel like a walking wallet to them instead of a friend when they come to playdates with samples. I hate not knowing if someone actually wants to hang out or if they are just using me to sell to, or to potentially recruit to sell UNDER them (which is where the real money is in these schemes - drives me CRAZY).
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@chopsuey: There seems to be four lines of products, which one do you like?
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@alphagam84: I always hear great things about the Clairsonic. It has been on my Christmas list for a couple of years now lol.
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@stratosphere: Thanks, that's a great tip! I never knew Sephora did that.
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@Boogs: didn't know there were 4 lines, but this is what I use. My skin glows after the microdermabrasion and I love how it feels! The hand stuff is great too
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@chopsuey: Maybe not lines, but different stuff like their acne, reverse, and whatever else. You always look great, so thanks for the tip!
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@Boogs:
haha yeah, those things get confusing.
i got a small lecture from my facialist for not exfoliating, so now I use the microderm in the shower about once a week on my face and neck. My skin glows and feels so good after I do. I was thinking about getting the clairisonic, but I'm lazy and like keeping my beauty regimen simple. -
@chopsuey: I've never really had a facial, so lazy with my skin!
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@Boogs: I have to also second tge clarisonic...I love it...but I love to rough up my skin with exfoliating scrubs/tools!!!
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R&F is seriously annoying. I can't stand all the posts where someone I know welcomes so-and-so to their "team" and then 30 other women chime in and reply with fake comments like, "you're so smart, best decision you ever made"..."get ready for your life to change"...."go get it girl, that Lexus is yours!" Ugh! I want to punch them in the vag! Ok, that was maybe uncalled for, but I am so annoyed.
The shrink wrap people are awful too! Plus, I swear they are coached to target women post-partum, which is terrible.
Most of the other companies annoy me as well, but not nearly as much. I'm okay with friends selling if they let it be known once or twice that they are selling if you are interested, then leave it at that. Everyone else gets unfollowed on FB.
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@alphagam84: This has happened to me and it is really awkward and feels intrusive. I have had acquaintances message me to strike up conversations about health or breastfeeding, and I think they are genuinely curious and being nice and then, bam - sales pitch.
I am not completely against MLM if that's someone's thing but it's not mine, and I hate how FB makes it so in your face all the time. I have had to shut down multiple family members which is really uncomfortable. I have just made a zero tolerance policy and any time I am added to a "party" or group I let them know right away about my policy and remove myself.
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I do not- Proactiv is SO harsh on skin and was created by them, so I don't really trust their products (my skin is super-sensitive).
Interesting conversation that's spun off in this thread. Personally, I don't really love the MLM thing in general either, simply because I get tired of being "introduced" over and over to It Works, Jamberry, Beach Body, Rodan & Fields, Younique, Pampered Chef, on and on and on, and added to party after party on FB, and being followed by so many fitspo people trying to sell me stuff on IG (I was especially targeted by It Works people when I was newly postpartum). I had a good friend really into ACN for a while too, and it broke my heart to see her really buying into it, and trying to rely on it full time, because it didn't end up working out after a while.
I don't blame moms for wanting to make some income for their families, and I think it's fine to do, it's not like it's a new concept: anyone remember Tupperware, Avon, and Mary Kay being big when we were little?
I've even tried some of the various products (fiberlash mascara), but I think on some base level it just seems a little annoying to go to a place to socialize and keep in touch, and get pitched to so often, by 50 different people selling the exact same product, *and* not only wanting me to buy it, but wanting me to start selling it as part of their "team."
The heavy push on recruiting feels disingenuous because everyone knows the goal is simply to earn more money, by adding more people under you. The language they use is so obviously transparent and slimy too, "I want to share this exciting opportunity with you!" Yuck.
I started my own bridal accessories business, ran it for 4.5 years, sold my items in Nordstrom for 2 years, and then sold the business a year ago, and the amount of people contacting me right after that, to help me "find my next step," with one of these companies, was the worst. I had just created and sold my own thing, was going through a period of transition and mourning in a way, and *so* wasn't interested in selling nail stickers or supplements.
**I do think a few overzealous representatives can sort of taint the whole thing, so I'm not saying all people involved in these companies are the same, or bad.**
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Just chiming in with another vote against having this stuff pollute my social life. If I want to buy something, I will go to a store or shop online. If I want a suggestion, I might ask someone for advice. But I hate shopping, and I hate sales pressure, and we live in a day and age where in my opinion everyone has too much stuff. I don't need more opportunities to have products shoved in my face. I already spend plenty of money. When I am trying to socialize or unwind, that is the last thing I want to hear about.
MLM seeks to take advantage of peoples' personal contact lists, and that is why I find it insidious. If they didn't do that, then I don't believe their business model would be sustainable.
My really close friends don't engage in this sort of stuff, so this wasn't really a big issue for me until recently. But now that I have a toddler I have a lot of "mom acquaintances" and all of a sudden I am seeing much more of it. It's very annoying.
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I'm so fascinated to see where this discussion has gone. I saw someone engage with all of someone's friends that commented on a social media post yesterday. They told them things like to message her and she will help them, and trying to sell some preferred customer spiel. If I was that person I would have been peeved about someone reaching out to me with a lame 10% discount after I made a comment about how pricey all the products seemed.
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Does anyone use the lash boost serum? Or know of a cheaper one? I want to try it so badly but it’s sooo expensive.
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@stormborn: I tried Lash Boost but it made my eyes itch horribly! Instead I used it on my eyebrows and they have grown in SO much!! There are cheaper products on amazon with good reviews and I think I will try one of those when this runs out!
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@stormborn: I use it and it’s amazing! It’s $$$ but it lasts much longer than the 60 days. The key is to apply very little since it can irritate your eyes if you apply too much. Unfortunately it’s not available in Canada so I have to order it to a US address but it is 100% worth it. People always ask if I have lash extensions.
Full disclosure: I sell R+F but mainly to pay for my products. -
@stormborn: I do! I love it. It definitely lasts much longer than 60 days so the price is less crazy than it seems. I’m not affiliated either R&F so this is unbiased!
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I use R+F and have had amazing results and a great experience with my friend who I buy through.
Some things:
1. My friend has NEVER pushed products I don't need and is genuine in her own use of the different products. She sends an email at the beginning of each month my preferred order is going to auto-ship asking me if I have questions, and reminding me that I can edit this or delay as many times as I want with instructions on how to do it on the site. It's super transparent of her and I really appreciate that.2. Agreed that products often last more than 60 days. I use a smaller amount than they say, and I often forget a day here and there so I am never buying a full set of products every 2 months.
3. I use the unblemish intensive acne treatment and it's the ONLY product that has cleared up my continual cystic acne as an adult. Not a single other thing has worked like this has and it's seriously life-changing for me to not even think about having blemished skin in my 30's. I will continue to pay whatever price I have to for at least this item, regardless of whatever else I use.
Other products I have and enjoy but do not buy frequently because my use does not warrant it are: Reverse deep exfoliating wash, Unblemish clarifying toner, Redefine eye cream, bright eye complex, microdermabrasion paste, and lip renewing serum.
Again, I buy a lot of these a couple times a year, if that, because I don't use them constantly and/or I use less than they say because I just don't need it. I can tell you spending more money, less frequently, on products I use that work is better than when I was wasting my money on drug store or Sephora purchases that were a gamble and did not work for me which eventually ended up in the trash.
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@stormborn: I used lash boost, but stopped because it was making my eyes itchy and I was getting concerned about ingredients. It did my my eyelids a bit more red too. I used two bottles of it and will say it lasted much longer than 60 days (probably more like 4 mos, maybe even 5).
Now I use a combination of essential oils - it doesnt work as good but I have noticed an improvement.
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@Mrs D: I had to stop using lash boost because my eyes were so itchy and irritated from it. My friend said I needed to give it more time but I stopped immediately after 1 week of using it. I saw this article the other day so I think the side affects are happening to others too.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rodan-fields-hit-with-suit-over-lash-boost-eyelash-enhancer/
I have been really pleased with some of the younique makeup items (esp the fiber lashes) and I have found a few ThirtyOne bags that I dont see another comp to - specifically the LUT.
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